Golf club head having two weight receiving recesses to individually vary the weight of the toe and heel portions



Aug. 4, 1964 w, J, MaclNTYRE 3,143,349

GOLF CLUB HEAD HAVING TWO WEIGHT RECEIVING RECESSES TO INDIVIDUALLY VARYTHE WEIGHT OF THE TOE AND HEEL PORTIONS Filed April 25, 1961 IN V ENTOR. Mzrew Jmcl/vrmE Arm NEYS United States Patent 3,143,349 CLUB HEADHAVING TWO WEIGHT RE- QEEVENG TEESSES Ti) DTDIVIDUALLY VARY THE WETGHTBE THE TQE AND IEEL POR- TEENS Wiifred 3i. Macintyre, Huron, OhioNor-walk Truck Lines, The, 13% Milan Ava, Norwaih, Ohio) Filed 25, 1961,Ser. No. 165,437 1 Claim. (Ci. 273-171) This invention relates to golfclubs, and, more particularly, to golf club heads.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved golf club head which aids the golfer, more effectively than theprior art golf club heads, to accurately direct a golf ball.

Another principal object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved golf club which can be balanced to personally suit the ownersneeds, by placing selected weight members in the bottom portion of theclub head, thus improving the feel of the club without making the clubunnecessarfly heavy.

Another principal object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved putter head which can be balanced, as desired, by placing aselected number of weight members in recess means in the bottom of theputter head and holding the weight members in the recess means byremovable cover means which extends over the recess means, thussimplifying the manner of balancing the putter or altering the balancethereof.

Another principal object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved golf club head having, as an aid to more effective use of theclub, a first guide line substantially equal in length to the diameterof a conventional golf ball and disposed on the top of the head in aparallel relation to the striking face of the club head, and a secondguide line perpendicular to the center of the first guide line, therebyproviding a simple and convenient means for accurately aligning the golfball, hole and striking face.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from thedescription of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club head embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the club head of PEG. 1 lookingtoward the striking face;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a golf club having a head of theform shown in FIG. 1 and with a portion of the golf club shaft brokenaway;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the head shown in FIG. 1 and with aportion of the cover means broken away;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on section line 6-6of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of another golf club head embodying the presentinvention; and

FIG. 8 is an expanded view of filler and weight members usable in thegolf club heads of FIGS. 5 and 7.

As embodying the novel golf club construction of this invention, aputter head H is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings having a bottomsurface 10 and a top surface 11. A substantially vertical striking face12 extends from the bottom surface 1% of the putter head to the topsurface 11 of the putter head. Although the striking face 12 is referredto as being substantially vertical, it will usually be inclinedsomewhat, the inclination for a putter being approximately four degrees.On the side of the putter head opposite the striking face 12 there aretwo faces 13 and 14 which preferably merge at the back of 3,143,349Fatented Aug. 4, 1%54 "ice the head into a curved surface 15. Thesurfaces 13 and 14 preferably lie in approximately vertical planes.

The curved surface 15 is of less height than the striking face 12 andthus the upper surface 11 of the putter head slopes downwardly from thestriking face 12 toward the curved surface 15, as shown in FIG. 4. Theupper surface 11 of the head also slopes from the lateral ends 17 and18, usually referred to as the heel and toe of the head, respectively,downwardly toward a median line 2:), which is located approximately inthe center of the putter head and is substantially perpendicular to thestriking face 12.

The median line 20 provides a guide line which, taken with a secondguide line 21, provides an effective device for aiding the golfer toaccurately align the golf ball, hole, and striking face of the club. Thesecond guide line 21 is substantially equal in length to the diameter ofa conventional golf ball and is positioned on the top surface 11 of theputter head, parallel to the striking face 12, and immediately adjacentthe intersection of the top surface 11 and the striking face 12. Theguide line 20 extends from the center of the guide line 21 toward thecurved rear surface 15 of the club head. While the guide lines 20 and 21may be paint lines, strips of tape, or any other device which can beeasily seen, preferably, they are of a more permanent character, namely,grooves suitably formed in the head.

It is apparent then that the lines 29 and 21 form a T with the cross ofthe T, line 21, parallel to the striking face on the putter head. Withthe socket 22 for the club shaft 23 disposed entirely on one side of theT, the T provides a device for accurately and conveniently squaring thestriking face 12 with the desired putt line. Since the cross of the T issubstantially equal in length to the diameter of a conventional golfball, the cross of the T assists in keeping the golf ball positioned inthe center of the striking face 12. This is extremely effective asopposed to certain of the prior art aligning devices, which extendentirely across the entire striking face. In such prior art devicesthere is practically no advantage because the aligning device mergeswith the striking face and loses its effectiveness. While it is apparentthat the novel aligning device herein disclosed is most useful onputters, it is obvious that this aligning device could be used on golfclubs other than putters.

The putter head H is provided with recess means, in th s case a pair ofrecesses 30 and 31, which receive balance weight insert members as isfurther explained hereinbelow. The recesses 30 and 31 are formed by atrapezoidal shaped peripheral surface and extend into the bottom of theputter head, best shown in FIG. 5, and a web portion 32 separates therecesses 30 and 31. The recesses are provided with post members 33 and34, respectively, which are positioned approximately in the center ofthe respective recesses. The recess 31, which is located in the heelportion 17 of the putter head, is of a greater depth than the recess 30,which is located in the toe portion of the putter head and is providedwith ribs 35 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

A cover plate means on the bottom of the head H covers the recesses 313and 31 and retains the weight insert members therein. The cover platemeans is shown in FIG. 5 as comprising a single cover plate 36 restingon the web portion 32 and received in a rabbet 37 which surrounds therecesses 30 and 31. Suitable securing means, such as Phillips headscrews 38 and 39 extending through apertures in the cover plate 36 andthreaded into internally threaded holes in the posts 33, 34, are used tosecure the cover plate 36 in a position covering the recesses 30 and 31.

A plurality of balance weight insert members 49, which are adapted to beinserted and removed from the recesses 36, 31 to balance the putterhead, as desired, are shown in FIG. 8. Each of the weight insert members49 is here shown as a flat lead member having a trapezoidal plan shapesimilar to the shape of the recesses 39, 31 for preventing rotation ofthe fiat weight members in the re cesses. Each of the weight insertmembers has an opening 41 therethrough, through which the posts 33, 34,respectively, extend when the fiat weight members are positioned in therecesses 30 and 31. It is apparent that the weight members can besuitably chosen in order to give the club the proper balance desired bythe golfer. The cover plate 36 is then tightened. by means of screws 38and 39 onto the putter head to secure the various insert Weight membersin the recesses 30 and 31, thereby simplifying balancing the putterhead.

In order to prevent any rattling of the weight insert members 40 in therecesses 30 and 31, flexible and compressible filler members 42 arefirst positioned in the recesses with the posts 33, 34 extended throughapertures in the filler members 42. The filler members 42 are preferablymade of sponge rubber, and are of a suitable thickness and havesubstantially the same plan shape as the weight members 44 The spongerubber member 42 which is inserted in the recess 31 in the heel of theputter rests against the ribs 35 in the bottom of the recess 31. Thesponge rubber insert 42 which is placed in the recess 38 in the toe ofthe putter head rests against the bottom of the recess 39. The weightinsert members 4% rest against the sponge rubber members 42, and theplate member 36, which holds the weight insert members and the spongerubber members in the recesses cause the weight members to be pressedagainst the sponge rubber inserts, thus compressing the sponge rubberinserts and maintaining the weight members tightly in the recess.

Also, to assist in properly securing the weight members in the recesses,hard rubber washers 45 are utilized. The hard rubber washers 45 aremounted on the posts 33, 34 and are compressed somewhat by tightening ofthe cover plate member 36 against the bottom of the putter head by meansof the Phillips head screws 38 and 39. Also, since the plate 36 issomewhat flexible, it can be snugly secured in the rabbet 37 and thusfurther provides for eliminating any rattle of the weights in the heel17 or toe 18 of the putter head.

The putter head shown in FIG. 7 is substantially the same as the putterhead shown in FIGS. 1-6, and the same reference numerals used todesignate certain parts of the putter head shown in FIGS. 1-6 are usedwith prime designations to designate corresponding parts of the putterhead of FIG. 7.

The putter head shown in FIG. 7 has a striking surface 12' and a bottomsurface 10. The bottom surface has recesses 30' and 31 separated by webportion 32' with posts 33' and 34 extending from the body portion of theputter head into the recesses 30 and 31'. A rabbet 37' surrounds recess30', and a similar rabbet, not shown, surrounds recess 31'. Theserabbets provide seats for a pair of cover plates, only one of which isshown at 36, similar to the seat 37 for the cover plate 36 shown in FIG.6. The cover plate 36' is shown secured by screw 39' in a positioncovering recess 31'. The second cover plate, which is not shown, cansimilarly be secured in the rabbet 37 covering the recess 30.

The putter head shown in FIG. 7 can be balanced in substantially thesame manner as the putter head shown in FIG. 6. Sponge rubber insertmembers and hard rubber Washers can be used for the same purpose as theyare used in the putter head shown in FIG. 6. Of course, when balancingthe putter head shown in FIG. 7 it is necessary to remove both of thecover plates, insert the 4 desired number of weight members in each ofthe recesses 30' and 31, and secure the respective cover plates over therecesses.

Thus it can be seen that the putter heads shown in the drawings can beeasily adjusted to provide the weight and balance which suits thegolfers personal need or preference. In addition, it can be seen thatthe weights are at the extreme bottom of the putter head. This resultsin a sensitive, yet firm feel which will assist in the attainment ofaccurate putting, partly because of the greater momentum which resultsfrom positioning the weights the greatest distance possible from thehandgrip portion 46 of the club shaft 23. Because of this greatdistance, the putter has a better feel than the prior art putters, andit is not made unnecessarily heavy.

While the preferred form of the invention has been described inconsiderable detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the construction shown nor the uses referred to and it is myintention to cover all adaptations, modifications, and changes whichcome within the practice of those skilled in the art to which theinvention relates and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described my invention, I claim:

In a putter for use on a golf green for striking a golf ball anddirecting the ball toward the golf hole, a putter head comprising a bodyincluding a toe body portion and a heel body portion forming oppositeends of said body, said body having an underside, an upper side, and asubstantially vertical ball striking surface extending along one lateralside of said body and along said heel and toe body portions andintersecting said upper side and underside of said body, a pair ofrecesses extending into said body from the underside thereof, one ofsaid recesses 10- cated in said heel body portion and the other of saidrecesses located in said toe body portion, a substantially verticallyextending post integral with said body and projecting into each of saidrecesses substantially centrally thereof, rib members formed integrallywith said body and extending from the bottom of the recess in said heelportion and having a free end projecting into said recess in said heelbody portion a distance less than the distance the associated postextends therein and providing a hollow in said body bewteen the free endof said rib members and the bottom of said recess in said heel bodyportion, a group of substantially flat weights in a stacked relation ineach of said recesses and having openings therethrough conformingsubstantially to the cross section of said posts and through which saidposts extend, cover plate means for each of said recesses extendingthereover and covering said recesses, said group of weights in each ofsaid recesses retained therein by said cover. plate means and said groupof weights in said recess in said heel body portion being supportedbetween said cover plate and the free end of said rib members, andfastening means engaging each of said posts and said cover plate meansfor removably holding said cover plate means in place and releasable torelease said cover plate means to provide for removal of weights fromsaid recesses and individual adjustment of said toe and heel bodyportions of said putter head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,291,967 McDougal Jan. 21, 1919 2,163,091 Held June 20, 1939 2,198,981Sullivan Apr. 30, 1940 2,517,245 Scott Aug. 1, 1950 2,954,231 MaclntyreSept. 27, 1960 3,039,776 Faini June 19, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 5,959 A sa i NQ .9

